milk-and-water

adjective

ˈmilk-ən(d)-ˈwȯ-tər How to pronounce milk-and-water (audio)
Definition of milk-and-waternext
1
as in bland
lacking in qualities that make for spirit and character a milk-and-water campaign speech that most likely did not inspire a single person

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in weak
lacking strength of will or character we need to elect a leader with a bold vision, not someone who's been a milk-and-water yes-man all his life

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for milk-and-water
  1. bland
  2. weak
  3. boring
  4. soft
  5. watery
  6. weakened
  7. insipid
  8. banal
Adjective
  • Despite his top billing and his undeniable curmudgeon charisma, even Dern ends up underserved by a role that is eventually reduced to so much benign backdrop for a much blander hero’s journey.
    — Jessica Kiang, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
  • In terms of texture and flavor, these bite-size pancakes range from fluffy to pasty, sweet to bland, terrific to just barely edible.
    — Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of bland
Adjective
  • The Commerce Department released a report Friday showing weak retail sales in July.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Following his coach and uncle Toni’s advice, Nadal finally beat Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2008, breaking Federer’s Open-Era-record five-year winning streak on grass, by playing high balls to Federer’s back hand, his weak point.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of weak
Adjective
  • Now the seven most boring, starting with the most tolerable (comments edited for grammar and clarity).
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026
  • It’s been a boring week for Makyah, who’s in third grade at Banneker Elementary.
    — Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of boring
Adjective
  • Quilt sets are oversized, reversible and buttery soft, made from the same smart fabric as the favorite sheets with a 100% inner cotton lining, recently named a Good Housekeeping favorite.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Expect a calm palette of neutrals and soft blues, metallic accents, and plenty of natural light, with views either west toward the mountains and desert or north up the Strip.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of soft
Adjective
  • In 2024, more than 2,200 people were hospitalized with acute watery diarrhea in Yangon, with 15 deaths reported, according to World Health Organization data.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Symptoms commonly include watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, bloating, gas, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss.
    — Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of watery
Adjective
  • Now, some fear a weakened Voting Rights Act could cause those gains to be reversed, Tamar Hallerman reports.
    — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Children under five, older adults and people with weakened immune systems face the greatest risk of severe illness.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of weakened
Adjective
  • The ending produces more questions that the frustratingly insipid storytelling doesn’t feign to care about.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Mitchell, whose gritty century in the recent third test against England secured a series victory, top-scored with 65 in an insipid New Zealand batting effort.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 July 2026
Definition of insipid
Adjective
  • What to derive from this sequence beyond a series of banal aphorisms about time passing and memories fading?
    — Elena Lazic, Variety, 25 July 2026
  • Meanwhile, Larry’s examples of how to implement his vision were utterly banal.
    — Claire Stapleton, New Yorker, 18 July 2026
Definition of banal
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

milk
milk-and-water
milked
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Cite this Entry

“Milk-and-water.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/milk-and-water. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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